Laguna de los Tres Hike: The View of Fitz Roy
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El Chalten is known as the hiking capital of Argentina, and for a good reason. There are a plethora of hikes to choose from day hikes to multi-day treks. But there’s one hike that stands above them all, and that’s to Fitz Roy. The hike is called Laguna de los Tres and shouldn’t be missed when visiting this small town in Patagonia!
This hike shouldn’t be overlooked as it’s a tough one but if you’re up for the challenge, you won’t regret it.
In this guide, I’ll go over everything you need to know before setting off to hike Laguna de los Tres.
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Why You Should Hike to Laguna de Los Tres
When arriving in El Chalten in Argentina, one of the first sights you’ll see (if it’s a clear day) is Mount Fitz Roy. This mountain can be seen almost anywhere in the beginning of town.
After seeing it for the first time, you’ll know that completing this hike is a MUST.
But seeing Fitz Roy from town just isn’t the same as being up close and person. Reward yourself afterward with one of the best meals in town at La CervecerÃa Chaltén.
Where is the Laguna de los Tres Trailhead?
The trailhead for the Fitz Roy hike is at the upper part of town. It’s along the same road with many of the restaurants to the North/Northwest.
This is also where the trail to Chorrillo del Salto Waterfall is located.
Once you start getting closer, you’ll realize that a lot of people walking in the same direction as you are also doing this hike. It is a small town, after all, but that’s what makes it so special.
You’ll start noticing the same people throughout your trip to Patagonia.
How to Get to Laguna de los Tres Hike
The beauty of visiting El Chalten in Argentina and trekking here is that all the hikes can be reached on foot, like Laguna Torre.
It’s around a 25-minute walk from the bus station to the trailhead, but most likely, your accommodation will be slightly closer.
If you do end up wanting to drive to this trailhead because you rented a car, then there’s a small parking lot as well.
Things to Know Before Hiking
When hiking in a foreign country, there are many questions that you may have. This trail is easy to follow and find. There will always be people hiking along it if you need any help or feel lost.
Below are some additional things I think you should know before hiking Laguna de los Tres to Fitz Roy.
Things to Bring
Patagonia is known for its huge mood swings of weather, and I wouldn’t change that for the world. It’s what makes this area unique. But it’s a good idea to come prepared.
During the peak season between the months of December to February, there will be warm weather, cold weather, and rainy weather. Here are some things I suggest bringing.
Camping at Laguna de los Tres
If you’re a true adventure seeker and are looking to camp near Fitz Roy, then you’ll want to look at the Poincenot Campground.
When doing this as a day hike from town, you’ll walk right through it on your way to the most difficult section of the hike.
This campsite is on a first-come, first-served basis. So if you want to wake up early to see the sunrise over the lake, I’d suggest not getting here too late.
From this campsite, it is around a one-hour hike to the top.
Entrance Fee
Traveling on a budget is hard, especially when visiting Patagonia. But one of the bright spots is El Chalten and not having to pay any money to hike in their national park.
No need to fret as you can certainly make El Chalten fit in your budget (maybe accommodation aside).
I know money does help keep everything running smoothly and keeps the place better for future generations. But sometimes you want to go out and hike without the worry of money, and El Chalten has that!
Best Time to Hike Laguna de los Tres
Patagonia is known for its unpredictable weather, but that’s also its beauty. That said, the best time to hike Laguna de los Tres if you want minimal rain and maximum sun is from December to March.
These are their “summer” months because this region is in the Southern Hemisphere. A website like Mountain-Forecast can help you plan your most important hike during a clear period.
Combining Laguna Torre with Laguna de los Tres
If you’re up for it, you can combine the Laguna Torre and Laguna de los Tres hikes. My suggestion is to start with Laguna Torre and then make your way to Fitz Roy.
If you’re thinking about doing this all in one day, keep in mind that the total for this loop is 43 kilometers or 27 miles. I’d suggest camping for a couple of nights, as this will allow for a more enjoyable experience.
Here is an example itinerary of that:
- Day 1: Hike to Agostini Campground from El Chalten. Set up camp here and get ready to wake up in the morning to view Laguna Torres for sunrise.
- Day 2: Wake up for sunrise and begin your trek to Campamento Pointcenot. Head back down from Laguna Torre like you’re going back into town. Where there’s a bathroom, there’s a left turn. Take a left here and stay left until you reach Pointcenot.
- Day 3: Wake up early and start the Laguna de los Tres hike to view Fitz Roy for sunrise. Afterward, hike back into town.
Is Laguna de Los Tres the Samething as Fitz Roy?
If you’re looking for a hike to see Fitz Roy, Laguna de los Tres is the hike. Laguna stands for “lake” in Spanish and it’s the lake below Mount Fitz Roy.
Unfortunately, we were about a week or two early for all of the ice to be melted over the lake. But that means we have to go back, right?
Is Laguna de los Tres (Fitz Roy) Hike Difficult?
This is one of the most difficult day hikes you can do in El Chalten, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. It’s very achievable to reach the top and for you to be able to see the stunning Fitz Roy.
There are steep and flat sections spread out amongst the trail, and the majority of the hike is easy. The last kilometer is straight uphill and can be quite difficult for some.
If you’re looking for an easier hike in El Chalten that still offers amazing views, check out the Mirador de los Condores hike.
Hiking Details for Laguna de los Tres (Fitz Roy)
Parking Lot at the Trailhead
If you decide to rent a car to explore Patagonia the best way possible, there’s a parking lot right at the trailhead that you can use.
There are a couple of other hikes in the area that have parking lots for use, too.
Adding Laguna Sucia to the Hike
If you’re feeling up for it, there’s another lake that you can venture to that’s close by. Laguna Sucia offers a different perspective of Fitz Roy and is normally quieter.
This will add a few miles to this hike, so be sure you consider this before making that decision!
Best Places to Stay in El Chalten
- Rancho Grande: This is one of the most popular hostels in the area. It’s large and has its own restaurant with a bar! I didn’t stay here, but we grabbed a couple of beers here and loved it!
- Kau Si Aike: Centrally located, this is an apartment that also comes with free breakfast! The place is clean and has some great mountain views.
- Destino Sur Hotel & Spa de Montaña: Looking for a more luxurious experience? Check out this lovely spa located near many fantastic restaurants!
My Experience
This was our last hike in El Chalten and as excited as we were to hike it, we were also a little sad. This small town in Patagonia is amazing, and I’ll definitely be back.
Arriving at the Trailhead
At this point, we had become accustomed to walking early in the morning to the different trailheads throughout town.
I’m not a big fan of starting a hike late, so we woke up at 6:30 am, packed lunch, ate breakfast, and went to the trailhead.
It wasn’t surprising to already see many people doing the same thing.
Laguna Capri
We decided to go to Laguna Capri before heading to Fitz Roy because we wanted multiple opportunities to get a good picture here.
The hike here wasn’t bad at all, and signposts are pointing you towards Laguna Capri if you want to do the same.
We decided to stop by on our way back again because as it was still beautiful views of the lake, there were still a few clouds around.
You’ll be following the same trail as everyone else until you see the signs that will have you taking a left.
It’s also possible to camp here but there aren’t as many spots as there are at Poincenot.
The Somewhat Easier Part
After Laguna Capri, the trail was more flat than anything. We were able to go fast while getting in a good rhythm. I think finding a good pace for yourself and sticking to it is one of the most important things for these longer, more challenging hikes.
Throughout this area, there are multiple opportunities for you to take photos of the surrounding area. We stopped multiple times to do so. If I went back, I’d probably stop even more!
Huge Incline Up
Once you see the signage pictured above, you’ll take a slight left turn. At this point, start preparing for a very steep incline up.
We knew we were getting closer and closer to Fitz Roy, but we didn’t know what to expect in this last section.
You can see in the pictures that there are many people climbing to the top. There are sections that you can go off to the side if you need to take a break. We did this multiple times.
Hiking poles help tremendously with this section, and I highly suggest renting a pair!
Fitz Roy
We were blown away when we arrived at Laguna de los Tres. Unfortunately for us, the lake was still frozen over but that gave us a different view of the area than most people will see.
There are hundreds of people here but the good thing is there isn’t a shortage of spots to sit. At the top, there will be a lot of rocks and big boulders that you can sit on and eat your lunch.
This gives you a view down towards the lake with Fitz Roy in the background. I wanted to get closer to the lake, so I hiked a little more down and got a closer look.
Some people were walking on the lake, but I wouldn’t suggest this as it’s probably a pretty thing during this time period (December), given that just a couple of weeks later, all the ice was gone.
Final Thoughts
I still can’t believe I had the opportunity to visit El Chalten and see Mount Fitz Roy. This hike is something that should be on every hiker’s bucket list. It’s that special. The hike might be difficult for some but if you take breaks, you can make it. My suggestion is to start as early as possible to avoid the crowds and increase the likelihood of you completing this hike.
